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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

That theatre is entirely unaffordable for the average family?

187 replies

Florally · 11/06/2025 21:09

I love theatre. I used to book for my family of 4 regularly and really enjoy it.

My kids recently saw a poster for ‘Christmas Carol Goes Wrong’ and loved the previous shows my the company so I thought I’d book it as a surprise.

It’s insane. If you don’t want to sit in the gods it’s basically £600 for a family of four minimum.

Who can afford that for one night out??

Am I missing something here?

OP posts:
Passthecake30 · 11/06/2025 21:16

YANBU. We saw Come Alive recently, it was absolutely brilliant, but £800 for 4. We save these for milestone bdays and end of gcse celebrations now.

justasmalltownmum · 11/06/2025 21:16

Disneys Hercules is £250 for a family of 4 in the stalls on certain week nights. Might be worth having a look.

GNR2022 · 11/06/2025 21:15

That’s the top tier seats though at £152, plenty of other pricing options available, down to £52

Els1e · 11/06/2025 21:15

I've bought tickets for this show and it was £50 each. Can you get to a theatre where tickets are cheaper? But in a nutshell, you're right. I use to go to theatre about once a month. Now it's about twice a year.

Persephoknee · 11/06/2025 21:15

Yes! It’s one of the reasons I feel the decentering of London is happening. It’s too crowded, too expensive , and has lost its Londoners banter vibe and become tourist swamped.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 11/06/2025 21:14

YANBU. I went to the theatre at Christmas but it was for the first time in a long while. It was a London production and the special VIP packages and seating were eye watering.

Theresabookinme · 11/06/2025 21:12

It’s crazy isn’t it? So expensive nowadays.

a friend recently told me she could’ve booked a family holiday for the cost of a west end show ( plus dinner and train tickets) for her family of 5.

I’m in London so can go on weekdays and wait for last minute tickets, but unless it’s something I’m really excited about, I don’t bother!

Shouldbedoing · 11/06/2025 21:12

I've been to the Royal Exchange, Manchester and paid very low prices for preview seats and under 30s seats. As in, me and 2 kids for under £40 total. You have to search a bit on their website to find this out. Other theatres will have similar offers.

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 11/06/2025 21:12

We always buy the cheapest seats. Never had a problem, other than the odd less than comfortable seat.

Mum2jenny · 11/06/2025 21:11

Theatre pricing is not that crazy in Nottingham. Where do you live?

OverpricedCupcake · 11/06/2025 21:10

Sit in the gods!
It's how I afford to go, or the restricted view seats.

Guavafish1 · 11/06/2025 21:09

Most activities are too expensive for families now… reminds me of the 90s…

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